| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the Week: Is biotech getting too powerful?

THE NEWS: A new program could tackle global problems like famine and pollution, say awed scientists. But some fear the risks far outweigh the rewards. Most of the time, human knowledge advances at a glacial pace, with frequent false starts and setbacks. But every so often, there is a single moment that revolutionises what we […]

| Read time: 5 minute(s)

Droughts cause problems around the world

This summer has brought extreme heat and droughts to places around the world. The droughts are leading to serious problems, including shortages of food and energy, problems with transportation, and price increases. The effects of the droughts are likely to be felt for years. From Africa to Europe to the US to China, record temperatures […]

| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate Of the Week: Will Artificial Intelligence destroy us?

News:The Moscow Open descended into chaos when a robot attacked a child. Is this the start of the AI takeover? Or will humans remain firmly in charge? Video footage shows a robotic arm suddenly lunging at the boy and grabbing his hand. Four adults had to rescue him from its grasp. It has some wondering […]

| Read time: 2 minute(s)

What went right this week

Solar-powered cargo bikes arrived Cargo bikes were already the quickest way to transport goods across a city, according to a study published last year. Little wonder they are being touted as the future of urban transport. Now they have even more of a competitive advantage thanks to two German companies, which have developed lightweight solar […]

| Read time: 4 minute(s)

This fashion label turns refugee life jackets into statement clothing.

For fashion label founder and former refugee Mohamed Malim, the discarded jackets are symbols of perseverance. Mohamed Malim, a former Somali refugee who went to the US when he was three, wants his fashion label to start conversations.  His Minnesota-based startup Epimonia takes life jackets from the Greek island of Lesbos that were worn by […]

| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the Week

Are we losing more than words? Linguists say the world’s minority languages are going through a mass extinction event. This may make communication easier. But what else is lost? Imagine looking at someone. Both of you want to speak but are afraid to start. This is called mamihlapinatapai, in the South American language of Yamana. […]

| Read time: 3 minute(s)

Patron the bomb sniffling hero

A tiny Jack Russell terrier has won hearts and admirers for helping neutralize hundreds of Russian explosives in Ukraine. Now he’s won state honors, too. Patron the bomb-sniffing dog– and his owner, Mykhailo Iliev of the Civil Protection Service— received a medal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a news conference on Sunday, in recognition […]

| Read time: 4 minute(s)

DEBATE OF THE DAY

Would you welcome a Ukrainian into your home? The Russian retreat has allowed a clearer picture to emerge of the huge amount of damage and destruction to lives and towns and villages seized during their push towards the capital. More than two million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. This is becoming […]

| Read time: 4 minute(s)

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE RUSSIA – UKRAINE CONFLICT?

If your kids have heard about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, they may be feeling nervous. Thanks to social media and online outlets, young people have access to more news sources than ever.  How should you answer your kids’ questions about what’s going on? If they don’t ask, should you bring up the issue yourself? […]

| Read time: 2 minute(s)

Are the Olympics cancelled?

A senior Japanese ruling party official said on Thursday that cancelling this year’s Olympics in Tokyo remains an option if the coronavirus crisis becomes too dire, dropping a bomb on a hot-button issue and sending social media into a frenzy. The Tokyo Olympics Organising Committee responded with a statement saying all those involved in preparing […]